Interbrain synchrony: on wavy ground

Trends Neurosci. 2022 Feb 28:S0166-2236(22)00036-4. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.02.002. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn recent years the study of dynamic, between-brain coupling mechanisms has taken social neuroscience by storm. In particular, interbrain synchrony (IBS) is a putative neural mechanism said to promote social interactions by enabling the functional integration of multiple brains. In this article, I argue that this research is beset with three pervasive and interrelated problems. First, the field lacks a widely accepted definition of IBS. Second, IBS wants for theories that can guide the design and interpretation of experiments. Third, a potpourri of tasks and empirical methods permits undue flexibility when testing the hypothesis. These factors synergistically undermine IBS as a theoretical construct. I finish by recommending measures that can address these issues.PMID:35236639 | DOI:10.1016/j.tins.2022.02.002
Source: Trends in Neurosciences - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research